John Griffin Jr. has called Woodbury and District 833 home for the past 30 years – he’s been a resident and a football coach and he’s led a youth athletics program.

“I have a unique perspective from different sides,” he said. “I’ve seen things get done and I’ve seen things not get done.”

One specific issue that prompted Griffin’s run is that his niece tried to transfer to East Ridge High School after being bullied at Park High School.

The district, he explained, informed her that East Ridge was not open for transfers, but Woodbury High School was.

However, a student-athlete from outside the district was granted a transfer to East Ridge.

“It has nothing to do with them or recruiting,” he said. “It’s about what a standard is.

“If you’re going to have a rule, you’re going to have it for everybody.”

Additionally, Griffin said he wants “knowledge, change and action.”

“We have to have a plan of action and then we have to go do it,” he said.

Griffin said he is uncertain where he stands on the levy and bond request questions.

“I think they’re important, but there’s some issues there,” he said.

Griffin said he would have liked the district to look at alternatives.

He also said three questions were too much for the ballot.

Griffin said he is concerned about cost and the availability of student-issued iPad devices.

“Some students’ parents are fairly well off and they’ve got tablets at their houses, but it’s that percentage that doesn’t,” he said. “It’s important that they have technology to better themselves too.”

Griffin is also concerned about students hacking the systems.

“On one aspect it’s a good thing, but on the other it’s a very guarded issue that needs to be looked at more,” he said.

Amber Kispert-Smith has been the schools and Afton reporter at the Woodbury Bulletin since 2008. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Minnesota. She previously worked as a reporter for Press Publications in White Bear Lake.